Strong and Moving!

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

This is the first time I've watched "Patch Adams" in a lot of years. Watching this film in the light of Robin Williams' suicide just a couple of years ago gives a different feel to it. In fact, knowing what would ultimately happen to Williams creates a couple of scenes that are literally gut-wrenching. The very opening of the movie when Hunter (not yet "Patch") Adams - played by Williams - checks himself into a mental hospital because he's suicidal, and a scene toward the end of the movie when - with both his professional and personal lives having seemingly fallen apart - he stands at the edge of a cliff, venting to God and obviously thinking about ... Well, it's a powerful and unsettling scene even without knowing Williams' fate; even more unsettling with that knowledge. "Patch Adams" tugs at the heartstrings in many ways. It elicits emotions and even perhaps a few tears - both of joy and of sadness. Anyone who isn't somehow emotionally touched by this movie is lacking a little bit of soul, I'd say. I would have to say that this is one of Robin Williams' absolute finest movies. I didn't always like his material; at times I found him way too over the top to actually be funny. Perhaps the secret to his success in "Patch Adams" is that he was being over the top - but in a movie that wasn't really a comedy. It's a dramatization of the real life story of Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams. In fairness, one has to point out that the real Patch Adams didn't much like the movie - apparently saying that it made him out to be little more than a funny doctor. Who am I to argue with the guy whose life was being dramatized? Regardless, I thought it made him out to be much more than just a funny doctor. He came across as caring and compassionate and concerned - a doctor who wanted to break through the sometimes artificial boundaries separating patients from doctors and establish real relationships with those under his care. I understand the concept of professional boundaries. I'm in a profession that shares the concern with the need for boundaries. But I also understand that sometimes they can get in the way of actually helping people. Setting my personal opinions aside, though, I thought this movie made the point that doctors have to be more than well educated authority figures with a title. They need to be real life flesh and blood people. Maybe the portrayal by Williams emphasized Adams' "funniness" - but not in a way that was disrespectful. And I say that as one who would confess that I would be put off by a doctor who engaged in some of Adams' antics. I do want my doctor to be a little more serious than that - but still human and approachable. The movie basically traces Adams' journey through medical school on his way to becoming a doctor and his battles with the establishment who often tried to stop him, leading up to a climactic appearance before the state medical board in Virginia.The performances in this are basically first rate. Williams was superb. Monica Potter as his love interest - fellow medical student Carin Fisher - was also a standout as a young woman with a lot of issues from her past who's adopted a tough as nails outlook on life, driven to graduate and get the title and the prestige, but who is softened and changed by her evolving relationship with Patch. Carin, unfortunately, wasn't "real." She was kind of a composite character as I understand it - a bit of the woman the real Patch did meet in medical school and marry and a bit of his best (male) friend who was actually murdered. I'm not convinced of the need to blend the characters. That was too much of an artificial tearjerker - powerful, but when you find out the real story after watching the movie and what happens to "Carin" you feel a bit lied to. At least I did. Bob Gunton was perhaps a bit too much of a caricature as the Dean of the medical school - by the book, more concerned with diseases than patients, fixated on the honour and dignity and respect of the medical profession at the expense of feeling or compassion. Gunton's performance was good - but he did come across as a caricature. But those two things (the false "Carin" story, and the caricature of Dean Walcott) are about the only things that would cause me to mark this movie down. There really wasn't a bad performance in the movie from the supporting cast.This truly is one of Robin Williams' finest movies. No one should call themselves a fan of his without having watched it, and anyone who isn't a big fan of his (and I have mixed feelings) needs to watch this to really appreciate his depth of talent. (9/10)

I guess this film is disliked by many primarily because the Patch Adams in the movie is nothing like the Patch Adams in real life, but does it really matter? The premise of the film is that it is based on a true story. Being based on something or someone does not necessarily mean that it is the exact carbon copy of that person or whatever. Anyhow, negativity-shaming aside, I'd like to point out why you must watch this beautiful piece of cinema.First of all, it is inspiring. Very inspiring. If there's still some humanity left in you, then you will truly find this inspiring. This movie is in the level of a film like Forrest Gump. The film manages to be riveting as well as funny. After all, the film being funny is part of its premise.Then, there's the film's soundtrack. Hell, the soundtrack sounds so beautiful that it rivals famous movie composers, such as, say John Williams. The score can make you feel happy, sad, or touched. It's really, really powerful.Lastly, there's the actors. I thought that they were all pretty decent in the roles they played, especially Robin Williams and Monica Potter (who also have good chemistry, in my opinion.) I thought that no one was acting in a wooden manner and all of them really gave it their all.In all, watch this movie. It's amazing, it's beautiful, and it's....Well, you get the point that it's a must-see. Rating: 10/10

Patch Adams (1998): Dir: Tom Shadyac / Cast: Robin Williams, Monica Potter, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Bob Gunton, Peter Coyote: Based on the true story of Hunter Adams who is self admitted into an institution due to suicide attempts. He is overjoyed when he helps a patient and aims to become a doctor himself. He is given the name Patch after he fixes a leak in a coffee cup. Too bad that he couldn't fix the leak in the screenplay. Familiar plot with an unnecessary scene involving a meat party that serves no other purpose than for Adams to don the white overcoat. The film seems as a take on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with an ending that is contrived. Directed by Tom Shadyac who deals with characters of odd behavior who struggle in their place in society. He previously made The Nutty Professor and Liar Liar. Robin Williams is carrying the film as someone who goes from depressed state to reaching a purpose. Monica Potter serves only as a love interest who will meet tragedy. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is flat as Patch's roommate. Bob Gunston plays the stereotypical dean who dislikes Patch's practice and basically has a stick up his ass. Peter Coyote plays a patient whom Patch attempts to cheer up but only succeeds in pissing off. We are given much insight into this individual that deserves better writing. Laughter can be a solution but not when your story is full of clichés. Score: 4 ½ / 10

The film Patch Adams interpretation of a true story about this unique doctor. The massage the man Patch Adams sends is amazing, he is so lovely and caring, especially for the children. He want's to be a doctor, but not only one who gives patients a good or bad message, but either so he wants to give them a good course. He wants to help people by bringing humour and fun into a world full of frustration, sadness, anger and dead with the patients. It's is truly fantastic that the world uses this new perspective today as film illustrates. Even thought at the time Patch Adams first try these new methods, many older doctors and teacher at medical school questions this way of treating sick patients. He sees the whole human being instead of only the disease, and he wants to create a better connection between nurses and doctors. He changes the hospital world to something better for all people. Robin Williams plays the character to perfection. When that's said I maybe sometimes think he's to much. That the fact that the medical school have rules, and he time after time breaks them without further consequences. That everybody, literally everybody shows up when he's in court. Sometimes I felt like he wanted to be better than everybody else. The film made me feel happy, sad, frustrated and angry. I give it 8 stars and I recommend everybody to see it.